Barneys is closing

[cameron]

This could have major ramifications in the fragrance game. Barney’s Chicago was my go to for sniffing Malle, lutens, byredo, nasomatto, CDG and many other niche houses.

RIP

https://apnews.com/868e8a905caa4a51b7cde13028fb443e

 

[ultravisitor]

The Chicago store is a few blocks from where I live. I was just there the other day and it was more empty than usual.

I wonder if there will be any good deals on the fragrances.

 

[cameron]

Places like Neiman bloomies nordys etc will likely make up for the void, but I doubt they will match the niche variety that Barney’s was known for. I know Neiman in Chicago now has Malles too but they don’t have some of the others that only Barney’s allowed me to smell in person to sample. It’s a sad day for niche lovers who wanted to sample scents in store

 

[mrcologneguy]

Loved shopping the Chicago store. At least the Manhattan location remains. Bal Harbour is a good spot for them, too.

 

[papillo]

Sad day in general for the lost jobs. I wonder what impact this will have on inventory levels at their online warehouse site.

 

[jkonick]

I'm always afraid to go in the Barney's in Seattle because I've never seen more than one or two customers in there at a time. The SAs just swarm around like sharks, and considering I'd only be going in to sample stuff I'd buy online, I don't want to offer myself up as chum.

 

[wildrnesxperienc]

I’ve never bought a fragrance there but I have bought sport coats and suits and shoes. Just bought a pair of shoes last month at the Madison Ave. store. Sad to see some close but hopefully it will allow the company to be healthier and stick around. Hate to see them close all stores and be gone for good.

 

[mrcologneguy]

I'm always afraid to go in the Barney's in Seattle because I've never seen more than one or two customers in there at a time. The SAs just swarm around like sharks, and considering I'd only be going in to sample stuff I'd buy online, I don't want to offer myself up as chum.

Bravely go forth unto the fragrance collection, buy something relatively inexpensive, insist on a nice shopping bag, and use that bag as your instant passport to great customer service at other luxury department stores. Buy socks and underwear at the other places, if necessary, just to keep the look going. Amazing how shopping bags from competitors is like the magic gold key to great customer service.

 

[ultravisitor]

Bravely go forth unto the fragrance collection, buy something relatively inexpensive, insist on a nice shopping bag, and use that bag as your instant passport to great customer service at other luxury department stores. Buy socks and underwear at the other places, if necessary, just to keep the look going. Amazing how shopping bags from competitors is like the magic gold key to great customer service.

Very true. I bought an SLG at Prada the other day and continued browsing other stores. SAs were throwing themselves at me, including at Barney's.

 

[Varanis Ridari]

The chain will try to survive, but only the best locations. I gave Parfum Nasreen a list of all the brands the Barney's here was carrying so maybe they can pick up some.

 

[jkonick]

Bravely go forth unto the fragrance collection, buy something relatively inexpensive, insist on a nice shopping bag, and use that bag as your instant passport to great customer service at other luxury department stores. Buy socks and underwear at the other places, if necessary, just to keep the look going. Amazing how shopping bags from competitors is like the magic gold key to great customer service.

Thanks for the encouragement! Hah, that's a good idea. My brother used to live in China, and although he was by no means rich, he did own a nice suit. He would go to upscale department stores and try on all sorts of watches, clothing, fragrances, etc - I guess when you're a 6' 5" American in a Brooks Brothers suit, you get royal treatment.

The main reason I want to go there is to check out some CdG stuff, which 1) is really not that expensive, and 2) is very hard to find on discounters, so if I'm going to buy something at full retail, might as well pick up something there. But if they have some kind of a closing sale, all the better.

 

[Juxtapozbliss]

There's already a thread about this: http://www.basenotes.net/threads/468121-Apparently-it-s-now-official-Barneys-to-close-Chicago-store

 

[cameron]

There's already a thread about this: http://www.basenotes.net/threads/468121-Apparently-it-s-now-official-Barneys-to-close-Chicago-store

Thank you but this one is related to male fragrance discussion. My CDGs, Malles, Nasomattos men’s scents.
I am saddened by the loss of Barney’s. It is a cautionary tale. I hope it doesn’t hurt niche brands that had Barney’s as a physical store in major US cities to sample niche scents such as CDG, heeley, lutens etc

 

[wildrnesxperienc]

Thanks for the encouragement! Hah, that's a good idea. My brother used to live in China, and although he was by no means rich, he did own a nice suit. He would go to upscale department stores and try on all sorts of watches, clothing, fragrances, etc - I guess when you're a 6' 5" American in a Brooks Brothers suit, you get royal treatment.

The main reason I want to go there is to check out some CdG stuff, which 1) is really not that expensive, and 2) is very hard to find on discounters, so if I'm going to buy something at full retail, might as well pick up something there. But if they have some kind of a closing sale, all the better.

I’m sure it depends on exactly what CdG you’re looking for but I do know that fragancex carries some.

 

[ultravisitor]

Thank you but this one is related to male fragrance discussion. My CDGs, Malles, Nasomattos men’s scents.
I am saddened by the loss of Barney’s. It is a cautionary tale. I hope it doesn’t hurt niche brands that had Barney’s as a physical store in major US cities to sample niche scents such as CDG, heeley, lutens etc

Barney's is not the only store in Chicago that carries CdG. I've seen it elsewhere.

 

[cacio]

Often, when a dept store with the exclusive closes, brands move elsewhere. But if there aren't many dept stores in a city, some brands may get lost.

 

[cameron]

Often, when a dept store with the exclusive closes, brands move elsewhere. But if there aren't many dept stores in a city, some brands may get lost.

Well said. There is only so much shelf space That another store can accommodate

 

[Shiny Beast]

Barney's is not the only store in Chicago that carries CdG. I've seen it elsewhere.

I was just in Nordstrom and they had some CdG threads I hadn't noticed before, so maybe their frags will start showing up as well.

 

[MFfan310]

Barney's is not the only store in Chicago that carries CdG. I've seen it elsewhere.

Ditto for Nasomatto in Chicago. I purchased my Duro from Merz Apothecary at their Palmer House location last year - and that is a strict masculine. And I think Neiman Marcus carries Serge Lutens now.

That said, I loved the Duro, but hated my stay at the Palmer House. When I revisited Chicago just three months later, I stayed at the St. Jane and liked it significantly more. The air at the Palmer House was so dry, it affected my fragrance sniffing plus made my nose bleed at a rate never before for a hotel. And there’s no in-room coffee, plus the Starbucks charges twice what the other downtown Chicago locations do. I will visit Merz again, but I will never stay at the Palmer House again.

 

[Varanis Ridari]

I was just in Nordstrom and they had some CdG threads I hadn't noticed before, so maybe their frags will start showing up as well.

They do. Go down into the basement to the men's perfume counter. They have CdG2, Wonderwood, and Amazingreen

 

[hednic]

The chain will try to survive, but only the best locations.

Hopefully the one near me in NYC will hold on a little longer.

 

[Shiny Beast]

They do. Go down into the basement to the men's perfume counter. They have CdG2, Wonderwood, and Amazingreen

Oh right on, hadn't noticed that before.

 

[ultravisitor]

Ditto for Nasomatto in Chicago. I purchased my Duro from Merz Apothecary at their Palmer House location last year - and that is a strict masculine. And I think Neiman Marcus carries Serge Lutens now.

If Serge Lutens is at Neiman Marcus, it is very well hidden.

You should check out the Merz location in Lincoln Square. The selection at the Palmer House location is a fraction of what you would see at the Lincoln Square location.

 

[cameron]

If Serge Lutens is at Neiman Marcus, it is very well hidden.

You should check out the Merz location in Lincoln Square. The selection at the Palmer House location is a fraction of what you would see at the Lincoln Square location.

Going to LS is inconvenient except for locals.
N.M. has stepped up their game vs 5-10 yr ago.
Saks has Montales now.
That place in bloomies top floor complex apothecary has Amouage

 

[Varanis Ridari]

Going to LS is inconvenient except for locals.
N.M. has stepped up their game vs 5-10 yr ago.
Saks has Montales now.
That place in bloomies top floor complex apothecary has Amouage

The Neiman's here has hardly anything and the Saks is an "Off 5th" outlet. Barney's was the only department store here with a decent niche selection besides Nordstrom.

 

[N.CAL Fragrance Reviewer]

After getting the $75million loan they have 60 days to find someone to buy them or they have to liquidate.

 

[Diamondflame]

What this turn of event underscores:

Be a property owner, not a renter.

Barney’s basically got its nuts caught in the landlord’s vice-grip.

 

[ultravisitor]

The Neiman's here has hardly anything and the Saks is an "Off 5th" outlet. Barney's was the only department store here with a decent niche selection besides Nordstrom.

What city are you in?

Just went to the store and was greeted by this:

 

[hednic]

Just went to the store and was greeted by this:

That was quick! They wasted no time.

 

[cacio]

If one Barney's survives, I will assume it's the fllagship on Madison ave. DC never had one.

 

[cazaubon]

There are two in California, Beverly Hills and San Francisco, plus the Barney’s co-op store in South Coast Plaza, which doesn’t carry their lineup of fragrances. Wonder if either of those will close...

 

[cameron]

Article today in NyP that Eataly is looking to buy/lease the flagship barneys location in NYC.

 

[hednic]

That property is prime real estate in NYC

 

[StylinLA]

Though I didn't shop there a whole lot, sure do miss the presence of Barneys in Beverly Hills. It was I'm quite sure, an edifice they built themselves to properly present their pricey offerings. It featured a large and magnificent staircase connecting all the floors that made it feel very open.

Frags were in the basement and offered some exclusive to Barneys offerings with dedicated sales reps (Le Labo/Malle). I got friendly with some of the sales reps and hate that they all got bounced onto the street.

Can't imagine what will become of a building so specifically built to accommodate a high end department store. I sort of wince every time I drive by it.

Sakes a block or so down the street has two buildings, and probably needs too much space to move into the now vacant Barneys. But sales in that sector are probably slowing, so maybe they'll move. Their current buildings are not aging well and not all that charming. The frags are a bit unwieldy...split between two separate buildings.

The Nieman Marcus Beverly Hills is in a fairly sterile white marble "fortress" that is very "Niemanesque." I shopped there a bit in the early 90s. Now I recoil in horror at the prices of things there. Decent frag section and I always note they carry a bunch of really pricey stuff I've never seen mentioned here or Fragantica.
For years, they were the only source for Creed in Los Angeles.